Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
IUPUI
Hot Shooting From Behind-the-Arc Lifts RedHawks to 73-59 Win over IUPUI
11/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - In the final game of the WNIT on Saturday night, Miami University's women's basketball team had five players score in double figures as the RedHawks defeated the IUPUI Jaguars, 73-59. Miami shot 64.7 percent from beyond-the-arc, while the RedHawks held the Jaguars to 1-of-7 shooting from downtown.
Strong defensive ball pressure and rebounding coupled with good offensive execution gave the RedHawks a six-point lead at the first media timeout. Junior guard Ashley Hawkins scored off an 18-foot jumper in the first six seconds and junior guard Courtney Reed connected on back-to-back lay-ups to give Miami a 6-0 lead with 15:47 to play in the first half. Two free throws by senior forward Laura Markwood gave Miami a four-point lead, 10-6, but a seven-point spurt by IUPUI pushed the Jaguars ahead, 13-10, with 9:44 remaining in the half. From that point, Miami went on a 20-4 run to extend its lead to 30-17 at the 3:35 mark of the first half. During the run, junior guard Jenna Schone connected on two three-pointers and junior forward Stephanie Ford collected five points to pace Miami during its spurt. Down the stretch, Christina Cunningham and Julia Whitted scored seven and four points, respectively, but senior guard Amanda Jackson and Schone combined to hit three three-pointers and Miami headed into halftime with a 39-38 lead.
Jackson and Schone led Miami with nine points apiece at the intermission, while Markwood collected 10 rebounds in the first half. Markwood's 10 rebounds in the first half give her three straight games collecting 10-plus rebounds. Cunningham led the Jaguars with 13 points at the break.
After Miami scored five consecutive points out of the half to take a 16-point lead, 44-28, the Jaguars went on a 10-0 run to close within 39-44 at the 13:17 mark. Holding on to a five-point lead, back-to-back three-pointers from Jackson and Hawkins helped push the RedHawk lead back to nine points, 52-43. Up 61-49, a trey by Markwood followed by a Jackson floater gave the RedHawks a 14-point lead, 63-49 heading into the final eight minutes of the game. Two Cunningham free throws left the Jaguars down 11 points, 63-53, and five consecutive points by Jackson gave Miami its biggest lead of the game, 70-52. From that point, Miami cruised to a 73-59 win.
Jackson led Miami with 21 points, her second straight 20-plus point scoring effort, while Markwood collected her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Miami returns to the floor at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, when the RedHawks entertain Wright State at Millett Hall.
